Tag Archives: Councillor Tony O’Brien

THREE Clare Fianna Fáil Councillors Alan O’Callaghan and Tony O’Brien have broken ranks with the party by publicly backing a no vote against the proposed Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Green Party coalition. Another party colleague, Councillor Pat O’Gorman is “edging towards a no vote” before ballot papers are sent out to about 750 members of the local Comhairle Dáil Ceanntair, who must return it before the deadline of June 25. Councillor O’Callaghan has also been appointed as one of the spokespersons for a new national campaign called “Fairer Future”, which is encouraging other FF members to vote against entering into government with Fine Gael. Describing itself as a “grassroots campaign of proud FF members”, this group contains more than 50 councillors from 14 counties who are actively campaigning with hundreds of other party members to defeat the new Programme for Government (PfG) negotiated by the three parties. In an interview with the Clare Champion, Councillor O’Callaghan stated that he …

A historic amenity area in Killaloe has received a major facelift thanks to the work of a new group of volunteers. Armed with a wide array of landscaping equipment, 17 volunteers completed a major clean up of Tobermurragh Well and the adjoining recreational area recently. Tobermurragh near the Pier Head, is named after Brian Boru’s great grandson who was baptised at this well. However, it is not a holy well and previously supplied the town with water before a piped water scheme came into operation. At the end of the nineteenth century the well was enclosed by a red-brick building. The concept of volunteers uniting to take on local projects has evolved out of the Covid-19 Community Response teams on both sides of the river. Eddie O’Gorman, who used to work in McKeogh’s hardware shop and has his own hardware business for a period, who has collected a wide selection of landscaping equipment such as hand tools, strimmers, blowers and …

GROWING unease about the proposed coalition of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party has been expressed in a survey of local FF councillors. Councillor P J Kelly claimed the most patriotic duty at this point in time is to “ensure that Sinn Féin doesn’t take over any future government”. “I am in favour a national government. This idea of letting Sinn Féin be the total opposition, we will end up with Sinn Féin in government down the road and any foreign investor in this country would be gone in a few days. The Lissycasey Councillor said a lot of grassroots members viewed the Confidence and Supply agreement, which Fianna Fáil entered into with Fine Gael in the last government, as “bad judgement” and felt the latest coalition option would also be “bad judgement”. “I have been speaking to Fine Gael representatives who have broadly the same view who feel we are just one step closer to amalgamation. In …

FIANNA FÁIL members of the Killaloe Municipal District are leading calls for consultation with grassroots on the nature of the next government, saying the party “must not for the sake of power, ignore the membership”. In a joint statement, Councillors Alan O’Callaghan, Pat Hayes and Tony O’Brien have urged members across the country to make their views known, and called for a postal ballot on a Programme for Government. All three councillors have also expressed their preference for an interim government of national unity rather than a coalition with Fine Gael and a third party. “Normally, under party rules, an Árd Fheis would be held and postal vote shouldn’t be a major problem,” said Councillor O’Callaghan. “There has been mention of talks over the phone with HQ and Comhairle Dáil Ceanntairs, but our preference would be a vote. HQ have no bother writing to us when they want church gate collections organised and membership paid for.” He expressed the view …

RESIDENTS of Tulla have been commended for highlighting issues of concern with a proposed social housing development which has just secured permission for a site at Doonaun on the outskirts of the village. The 25-home development, represents an investment of around €6 million, and was approved at this month’s meeting of Clare County Council. The proposals were the subject of 17 local objections – one of which included a petition signed by 45 local residents. Speaking to The Champion, Councillor Joe Cooney paid tribute to the efforts of the residents to work with elected representatives on identifying issues and said he believed these had now been addressed. “I am aware that residents had concerns and I met with them to hear their views,” Councillor Cooney said. “I would like to compliment residents on making their views known so that we, as local representatives, could refer these back to the local authority and have them addressed.” Among the issues raised was …

A COUNCILLOR has called on the government to allocate additional resources to repair potholes on the main thoroughfares of towns and village throughout South-East Clare. Councillor Tony O’Brien told a recent Killaloe Municipal District meeting that the roads in several towns and villages have been badly affected by adverse weather, particularly the huge volume of rainfall in February. He said people can go to several towns such as Killaloe, Scariff, Broadford, Whitegate and Tuamgraney and see potholes and areas of disrepair that need to be repaired. Even in the centre of towns like Killaloe, he said the condition of the main streets were in a poor condition. “The road network in the rural areas and urban areas have deteriorated significantly. These roads are in a very bad state of disrepair, particularly since the very wet February. “Potholes are appearing in the middle of towns. These roads and main streets that need to be repaired are not in any Roads Works …

  THE closure of the tourism office in Killaloe two years ago has been criticised as a “hugely detrimental” move against the promotion of East Clare and the town. Councillor Tony O’Brien highlighted the impact of closure during a questions and answer session with Shannon Heritage managing director, Niall O’Callaghan at a recent Killaloe Municipal District meeting. The Fianna Fáil Councillor recalled the operation of this tourism office was very beneficial particularly for tourists who came off the Dublin to Limerick motorway a few miles from Ballina. “The closure of this tourism office was hugely detrimental and a backward step. I would ask Shannon Heritage to consider re-opening this tourism office because it is a very necessary and vital piece of infrastructure for this part of the county,” he said Mr O’Callaghan said it was very important to clarify the role of Shannon Heritage, which operates as a commercial semi-state and this is very different to the role they previously …

  Ireland and Munster rugby families are united in mourning following the tragic death of Munster head coach Anthony Foley (42) at the team hotel in Paris. Munster’s European Champions Cup game against Racing 92 has been cancelled as a mark of respect to Anthony, his family, players, management and staff. On Sunday afternoon, a minute silence was observed at the Clare senior hurling final between Clonlara and Ballyea as a mark of respect to Anthony. Books of Condolence will be opened across Munster on Monday, October 17 in memory of Anthony. As a mark of respect the seven local authorities in Munster – Clare County Council; Cork City Council; Cork County Council; Kerry County Council; Limerick City and County Council; Tipperary County Council; Waterford City and County Council will open books of condolence at 12 noon. This will allow all Munster Rugby supporters from the province to express their sympathies on the sudden passing of one of Munster’s most faithful and best …